Xiaomi unveils Redmi Note 3 phone and updates Mi Pad tablet

The Redmi Note 2 may have only arrived in the past few weeks, but Xiaomi's just announced an even new version of the Redmi Note phablet. Yep, you guessed it: the Redmi Note 3. With a full metal design that's very much reminiscent of Apple's iPhone 6 series, it's one of Xiaomi's best-looking phones to date.

The Redmi Note 3 runs on an octa-core MediaTek Helio X10 processor and is available in two variants. One has 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage, the other 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. It also comes with a 4,000mAh battery, fast charging, a fingerprint sensor, a 13MP rear camera with two-tone flash and a 5MP front camera; it's using the MIUI 7 user interface, laid on top of Android.

Good news if you like slim, lightweight phones: the Redmi Note 3 is 8.65mm thick and weighs just 164g. As for its display, it rocks a 5.5in full HD screen with Xiaomi's own Sunlight Display tech, presumably for better outdoor visibility.

The Mi Pad 2 is Xiaomi's first Intel-based tablet with a 7.9in IPS display, 8MP rear camera and 6,190mAh battery. The processor is a quad-core 2.24GHz Intel Atom, there is 2GB of LPDDR3 RAM and a choice of either 16GB or 64GB internal storage. It comes in two colour variants: dark grey and champagne gold. Also included is a 5MP front camera, 802.11ac dual-band Wi-Fi and a USB Type-C port.

And there's one final new product. Wait for it... the Mi Air Purifier 2. It's 40 percent smaller than the original Mi Air Purifier at 52cm tall with a base area smaller than an A4 sheet. Xiaomi claims it is 11 percent quieter at 30dB and can fully clean the air in a 23 square metre room in 10 minutes. Good to know.

Pricing-wise, for the Redmi Note 3 the 2GB/16GB model is going for RMB899 (RM593) and the 3GB/32GB model retailing at RMB1,099 (RM725). The MiPad 2 16GB is RMB999 (RM660), the 64GB RMB1299 (RM858). As for the air purifier (which may never arrive in the West, let's be honest), it's RMB699 (RM461).